File or account-register.



F. MOINETT.

FILE OR ACCOUNT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED !AN.23, 191s.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHET1 0.,WA5HINOTON D C F. MOINETT.

FILE OR ACCOUNT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED 'JAN. 23. 1913.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. MOINETT.

FILE 08 ACCOUNT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23,1913.

,5 3 1L Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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FRANK MOINETT, 0F CANISTEO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SUPERIOR REGISTER COMPANY, OF CANISTEO, NEW YORK.

FILE 0R ACCOUNT-REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed January 23, 1913. Serial No. 743,776.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MOINETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canisteo, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Files or Account-Registers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that typeof files or account registers, adapted for holding duplicate sales slips, and other papers, that comprise a series or group of leaves or plates which are equipped with means, such as spring clips, for releasably retaining the papers in place on either one or both faces of the leaves, and which are arranged to swing from one position to another about hinging or pivoting means at one edge of the leaves to permit the papers to be readily examined and to be secured on and removed from the leaves. These files or registers usually include a cabinet or holder in which the leaves are arranged to turn forwardly from a more or less upright position, in which they occupy'a stepped relationship with their upper edges exposed one above another, to a more or less horizontal position, one over or upon another.

The objects of the invention are to provide desirable and thoroughly practical means of improved, simple and inexpensive construction, which enables the leaves to be supported in a stepped relationship in the cabinet or holder so that they can swing freely without interference with each other, and adapts the leaves to be shifted lengthwise relative to each other so as to occupy and be held in a compact rectangular pack convenient for" being placed in a safe or transported; also to construct the hinging means for the leaves so as to facilitate the placing of the leaves in position in, and their removal from, the cabinet and so that the leaves can be swung singly or more than one at a time from the upright to the horizontal position without shifting or disturbing the position of the remaining upright leaves; and also to improve the construction of files or account registers of this type in the other respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal'sectional elevation of a file or account register embodying the invention. Fig. 2' is a fragmentary transverse Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures. A represents a cabinet or holder in which the leaves B are arranged to swing from a standing. or substantially upright to a sub stantially horizontal position.

lVith the exception of the means, hereinafter described for pivotally supporting the leaves in the cabinet so as to swing downwardly one over another from the upright stepped relation, and for permitting the leaves to be shifted relative to each other to form a compact rectangular pack, the file or register can be of any usual or suitable construction.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the cabinet A has the usual horizontal lower or desk portion or provided with a drawer or till a, and an upright portion a, which is open at the front and in which the leaves B stand in the upright stepped relation so that they can be swung forwardly and downwardly, one over the other, above the desk (1.

-The leaves B are preferably of known construction, consisting of thin metal sheets with beaded or reinforced edges at their lower and upper, or hinged and free ends, and having secured thereon parallel edge and division wooden strips which serve to stiffen the metal sheets and space them apart to thereby provide room between the leaves for the papers and prevent the papers on one leaf from bearing and rubbing against those on the neXt adjacent leaf. Preferably the front and rear or cover leaves have strips 6 b on their inner faces only, while the remaining leaves have strips 6 b projecting from the opposite faces thereof. The edge strips 7) preferably have interfitting tongues and grooves 12*, see Fig. 5, which assist the hinging devices in preventing the lateral displacement of the leaves.

C represents spring clips for releasably securing the sales slips or other papers on the leaves B in the spaces between the strips.

Clips are provided on both faces of the intermediate leaves. Clips of any suitable construction or any other appropriate means can be used for releasably retaining the slips or papers in place on the leaves.

The last or rear leaf of the group is adapted to be removably secured in a more or less upright or standing position in the cabinet A, and the other leaves are'separately hinged or pivoted at their lower or back ends to hearing plates which are arranged at the opposite side edges of the leaves and are slidably connected to each other and attached to the rear leaf in such a way that the leaves can occupy the stepped relation in the cabinet, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and can be shifted lengthwise relative to each other to form a rectangular pack, as indicated in Fig. 4. As shown, the front or first leaf B is pivoted to bearing plates D whichare slidably connected to bearing plates D for the second leaf by headed studs (5 on the latter plates working in slots d in the former plates, and these bearing plates D are similarly connected by studs and slots d to similar bearing plates D for the third leaf, each leaf exceptthe last being thus pivoted to a pair of bearing plates slidably connected to plates for the next leaf. The slotted portion of each plate D is offset from the portion thereof to which the studs d are secured, thus forming on each plate'alongitudinal shoulder d against which the edge of the next plate slides to cooperate with the studs'and slots in retaining the several plates in parallel relation, and locating the several bearing plates at each side of the register in a common plane. The leaves are pivoted to the plates D 'and D by rods 6 which are secured to the lower or back ends of the leaves, and the ends of which enter holes in bearing extensions 6 of the plates D D, in which the rods are retained by nuts 0 011 the rods, or otherwise. The bearing extensions 6 are preferably offset inwardly from the body portions of the bearing plates D D, thereby avoiding the necessity for washers between the bearing plates and the edges of the leaves to prevent endwise play of the pivots in the bearings.

The last or rear leaf preferably has secured to its side edges metal reinforcing strips to which the bearing plates D for the next leaf are riveted or otherwise rigidly fastened. These reinforcing strips are connected at their ends by rods f" secured in the beaded end edges of the leaf so that the reinforcing strips are securely attached to the leaf and thus provide a firm and secure connection between the bearing plates D and the rear leaf, which prevents the rear "leaf from being bent or injured'by the strain thereon due to the weight of the hear ing plates and the leaves supported thereby.

The means shown for supporting the rear leaf and the bearing plates for the other leaves in the cabinet consist of hooks or seats G, Figs. 1 and 2, on an inclined board 9 of the cabinet, in which seats the rear leaf rests at its lower or back edge, and a spring retaining hook or finger g at the upper portion of the cabinet which engages and holds the upper edge of the leaf. The bearing plates D D rest at their lower ends on metal bars h secured on the opposite ends of the inclined board 9. When the rear leaf has been placed in position in the cabinet on the seats G, the bearing plates D D will slide downwardly one on another until they rest on the bars h, thus locating the pivots for the several leaves at different elevations, such that the leaves will stand in the stepped relation shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and can be swung downwardly one over another, as also shown in Fig. 1. When the leaves are swung downwardly, whether singly or more than one at a time, they swing on the stationary pivotal supports formed by the bearing plates, and the leaves which remain standing are not shifted in position in the cabinet, but remain stationary in the position indicated in Fig. 1. The upper or front edges of the leaves are positioned one above another when the leaves are standing, and one behind another when the leaves are turned down, thereby exposing names or index characters on the front faces of the leaves in the standing position and on the rear faces of the leaves in the other position and in this way facilitating reference to any desired sales slips or papers.

The leaves can be readily placed in position in the cabinet by laying the group face downward on the desk at of the cabinet and lifting the rear or last leaf upwardly and rearwardly and securing it in the seats or hooks Gr. The other leaves can then be swung together upwardly to the standing position. The leaves can be removed by reversing the operation or by lifting the group bodily out of the cabinet while in the standing position. When the leaves are out of the cabinet they can be shifted lengthwise relative to each other to form a rectangular pack, the sliding connection of the bearing plates D D permitting this movement of the leaves.

It should be apparent that the bearing plates arranged and acting as described can be slidably connected to each other, attached to the rear leaf and pivoted to the other leaves in any other suitable way, and also that the rear leaf can be secured in position in the cabinet in any other convenient way without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Laterally projecting pins or projections I at the side edges of the first leaf B are adapted to enter lL-shaped slots 2' in the bearing plates D for the second leaf, see Figs. 8 and 9, when the front leaf is swung from the horizontal to the standing position, and to slide upwardly in these slots, thereby locking the leaves from turning on their hinges and thus holding them together when removed from the cabinet. These locking devices can be employed or not, as desired.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a file, the combination of a group of paper holding leaves, means for stationarily supporting the rear leaf of said group in a substantially upright position, and a series of bearing plates which are arranged adjacent to each side of said group of leaves and are connected to each other so as to have a relative sliding movement only, one bearing plate of each of said series being rigidly secured to said rear leaf, each of said other leaves having a pivotal connection at each side with one only of said other plates, whereby the swinging of the leaves on said pivotal connections does not change the positions of the plates, substantially as set forth.

2. In a file, the combination of a group of paper holding leaves, means for supporting one of the outer leaves of said group, and a series of bearing plates towhich the remaining leaves are pivoted and which are connected together to slide only one on another parallel with the plane of said outer leaf, one of said bearing plates being slidably secured to said outer leaf, each of said remaining leaves having a pivotal connection at each side with one only of the other bearing plates whereby the swinging of the leaves on said pivotal connections does not alter the positions of the plates, substantially as set forth.

3. In a file, the combination of a group of paper holding leaves, means for supporting one of the outer leaves of the group, and one pair of bearing plates only for each of the remaining leaves arranged outside of the opposite edges of said leaf and to which said leaf is pivoted, said bearing plates at each side of the group of leaves being slidably connected to shift one on another parallel with the plane of said other leaf but being held from relative pivotal movement and one of said plates being attached to said outer leaf and held from pivotal movement relative thereto, substantially as set forth.

4. In a file, the combination of a group of paper holdingleaves, a cabinet in which said leaves are supported in'a standing position, a series of bearing plates arranged in said cabinet at each side of said group of leaves, means in said cabinet for stationarily supporting the rear plates of said series, said series including plates slidably connected to each other and to said stationary plate to slide in a direction lengthwiseof said standing leaves, and a pivotal connection between each of said sliding plates and one of said leaves, substantially as set forth.

5. In a file, the combination of a group of paper holding leaves, a cabinet therefor, means for stationarily securing one of said leaves in a standing position in the cabinet, a series of bearing plates which are arranged at each side of said group of leaves and are connected to each other and to said standing leaf to slide in a direction parallel to the plane of said standing leaf, and pivotal connections between each of the remaining leaves at one side thereof with only one of said plates, whereby the swinging of the leaves on said pivotal connections does not change the positions of the plates, substantially as set forth.

In a file, the combination of a group of paper holding leaves, a cabinet therefor, and means for pivotally supporting said leaves in the cabinet to swing downwardly from a standing position in whichthey oc cupy a stepped relation, comprising means arranged in the cabinet for stationarily but removably supporting the rear leaf of said group, a pair of bearing plates arranged adjacent to the opposite sides of each leaf, pivots connecting each leaf to the adjacent pair of bearing plates, the bearing plates for each leaf being slidably connected to the bearing plates for the next leaf to slide thereon lengthwise relative to said standing leaves, and means in said cabinet for loosely supporting each of said bearing plates, whereby said group of leaves can be placed into the cabinet by securing the rear plate therein and permitting the bearing plates to slide downwardly on each other into engagement with said supporting means.

7 In a file, the combination of a group of paper holding leaves, a cabinet therefor, and means for pivotally supporting said leaves in the cabinet to swing downwardly from a standing position in which they occupy a stepped relation, comprising means arranged in the cabinet for stationarily but removably supporting the rear leaf of said group, a pair of bearing plates arranged adjacent to the opposite sides of each leaf, pivots connecting each leaf to the adjacent pair of bearing plates, the bearing plates for each leaf being slidably connected to the bearing plates for the next leaf to slide thereon lengthwise relative to said standing leaves, and an inclined supporting member on which said bearing plates are adapted to rest, said bearing plates sliding relatively to each other into engagement with said supporting member.

8. In a file, the combination of a cabinet, an inclined supporting member therein, a series of bearing plates at each side of said cabinet, the rear bearing plates of said series being stationarily secured in said cabinet above said supporting member and the other bearing plates being slidably connected with each other to permit said other plates to slide relatively to each other into engagement with said supporting member, and paper holding leaves pivotally connected with said bearing plates, whereby said leaves can be swung on their pivots without changing the positions of said plates.

s 9. In a file, the combination of a cabinet, an inclined supporting member therein, a series of bearing plates at each side of said cabinet, the rear bearing plates of saidseries being stationarily secured in a substantiallyupright position in said cabinet above said supporting members and the other bearing plates being slidably connected with each other to permit said other plates to slide substantially up and down with regard to each other and into engagement with said supporting member, and paper holding leaves pivotally connected at each side with one of said bearing plates to swing downwardly from a standing position in which they occupy a stepped relation, whereby the swinging of the leaves on their pivots does not interfere with the position of said bearing plates.

10. In a file, the combination of a group of paper holding leaves, means for releasably supporting the rear leaf of the group in a standing position, and a pair of bearing plates to which each of the remaining leaves is pivoted, the bearing plates for one leaf being arranged to slide lengthwise relative to the leaves on the bearing plates for the next leaf, and means for locking the front leaf of the group to the bearing plates for the adjoining leaf to hold all of said leaves from swinging on their pivots, substantially as set forth.

11. In a file, the combination of a group of paper holding leaves, means for releasably supporting the rear leaf of the group in a standing position, and a pair of bearing plates to which each of the remaining leaves is pivoted, the bearing plates for one leaf being arranged to slide lengthwise relative to the leaves on the bearing plates for the next leaf, and means for locking the front leaf of the group to the bearing plates for the adjoining leaf, comprising projections on said front leaf adapted to enter and slide lengthwise in slots in said bearing plates to hold all of said leaves from swinging on their pivots, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, this 20th day of January, 1913.

FRANK MOINETT.

Witnesses:

FRED. G. CLARK, A. T. HUNTER.

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

